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Cover of The Midnight Line by Lee ChildThe Midnight Line
Modern · Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

The Midnight Line

by Lee Child
2017 · 496 pages · Fiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 12 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Jack Reacher, a drifter and former military policeman, spots a small West Point class ring in a pawn shop window in Wisconsin, a woman's ring from the class of 2005, which served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He wonders why a soldier would give up something she earned so hard, and sets out to find her. The trail leads to Wyoming and an opioid ring.

Why it's worth reading

It hit #1 on the New York Times list. Reacher is one of the most popular heroes in thrillers, and this is one of the more emotional books in the series.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It deals with addiction and veterans' wounds. Reacher books stand alone.

By the numbers

72.9Must-Read Score
  • Readers63 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller60 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
#1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1)19 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2017

Reads as

Gripping

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →

Quick answers

Is The Midnight Line worth reading?

Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,008 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.9 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is The Midnight Line about?

Jack Reacher, a drifter and former military policeman, spots a small West Point class ring in a pawn shop window in Wisconsin, a woman's ring from the class of 2005, which served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He wonders why a soldier would give up something she earned so hard, and sets out to find her. The trail leads to Wyoming and an opioid ring.

How long does it take to read The Midnight Line?

About 12 hours (496 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after The Midnight Line?

If you liked it, try The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, Cross by James Patterson or Live Wire by Harlan Coben.